Month: December 2021

Opinion: Unintended Coincidences

The Hill

Editor comment: 

Sometimes laws have unintended coincidences. Texas’ overly restrictive abortion law might just be one of laws.

Law experts have suggested that the clever “vigilante justice” part of the Texas law, if Constitutional, might be used by other special interest groups to accomplish very different goals.

Reports say that the conservative justices on the Supreme Court are concerned about the unintended coincidences of finding the Texas law constitutional.

It looks like other states are already working to use the Texas law to their benefit.

California governor to use Texas abortion law tactics to target assault rifles

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is looking to use a tactic from Texas’s controversial abortion law to target assault rifle sales in the Golden State.

Newsom on Saturday said he directed his staff to collaborate with the legislature and attorney general to draft a bill that would allow private citizens to file lawsuits for at least $10,000 “against anyone who manufactures, distributes, or sells an assault weapon or ghost gun kit or parts in the State of California.”

“If the most efficient way to keep these devastating weapons off our streets is to add the threat of private lawsuits, we should do just that,” he added in a statement.

California has had a ban in place on the manufacture and sale of specific assault-style weapons, The Associated Press noted, adding that a federal judge overturned the ban in June, ruling that the law was unconstitutional.

The state is appealing the judge’s ruling, in which he likened an AR-15 rifle to a Swiss Army knife, claiming the former is “good for both home and battle,” according to the AP.

Newsom’s announcement followed a ruling from the Supreme Court on Friday that allows Texas’s controversial abortion law to remain in place. The policy prohibits abortions from being performed after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which could occur as early as six weeks — before many women know they are pregnant.

The law also empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against individuals who perform, aid or abet an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

The Supreme Court in its ruling also said abortion providers can pursue a federal lawsuit challenging the law.

The California governor on Saturday said he was “outraged” by the Supreme Court’s decision.

“If states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts that compare assault weapons to Swiss Army Knives, then California will use that authority to protect people’s lives, where Texas used it to put women in harm’s way,” he said.

“If that’s the precedent then we’ll let Californians sue those who put ghost guns and assault weapons on our streets,” Newsom said in a separate tweet on Saturday, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision to let the law stand.

California has had a ban in place on the manufacture and sale of specific assault-style weapons, The Associated Press noted, adding that a federal judge overturned the ban in June, ruling that the law was unconstitutional.

The state is appealing the judge’s ruling, in which he likened an AR-15 rifle to a Swiss Army knife, claiming the former is “good for both home and battle,” according to the AP.

Newsom’s announcement followed a ruling from the Supreme Court on Friday that allows Texas’s controversial abortion law to remain in place. The policy prohibits abortions from being performed after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which could occur as early as six weeks — before many women know they are pregnant.

The law also empowers private citizens to file lawsuits against individuals who perform, aid or abet an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

The Supreme Court in its ruling also said abortion providers can pursue a federal lawsuit challenging the law.

The California governor on Saturday said he was “outraged” by the Supreme Court’s decision.

“If states can now shield their laws from review by the federal courts that compare assault weapons to Swiss Army Knives, then California will use that authority to protect people’s lives, where Texas used it to put women in harm’s way,” he said.

“If that’s the precedent then we’ll let Californians sue those who put ghost guns and assault weapons on our streets,” Newsom said in a separate tweet on Saturday, referring to the Supreme Court’s decision to let the law stand.

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Opinion: A series of questions

By George Smith  — December 12, 2021

A series of questions, poignant, ponderous ones, are flashing through my brainpan on this brilliant Sunday.

— Is the fiber of a revolution being woven in this country right this minute?

— Was the January 6, 2021 attack in the U.S. Capitol, designed to prevent the approval of the electoral votes for president (resulting in the death of five citizens) just a prelude to an all-out assault on democracy?

— Would the rightest of right-wingers, loyalists in the Army of Trump, actually take up arms in a systematic insurrection to overthrow our democratic republic?

There is little doubt the philosophical and political differences in this country are more severe than at any time in our history since the Civil War.

Yes, there were massive divides during the civil rights era, and the Vietnam War was fervently argued along generational lines.

But, now, today, feels different, is different.

Donald Trump’s campaigns and one-term presidency corrupted, abused and set on fire virtually every single hot button issue in America: race, religion, voting rights, education, gun laws, global alliances, abortion.

With Trump and his loyalists, everything was black and white, good or bad, righteous or evil.

With no gray areas permitted, the lines for verbal combat were clearly drawn; no middle ground existed, losers were kicked to the curb.

The chance for a meaningful dialogue about the benefits or negatives of any issue was lost as the far left forces and those with extreme right views dismissed anyone who chose to remain neutral or even want to consider options for compromise.

As the right hardened their positions on issues, the liberals felt compelled to harden their stances – no give, all take expected. When Democrats took over all three branches of government in 2020, instead of trying  to work on a government enveloped in compromise, they doubled down on the power they held, further widening the abyss.

It’s not going to stop, you know, this division. It’s only going to get worse.

There’s a good chance the Republicans will regain control of either the House or Senate or both in 2022.

If that happens, political hell is forecast with no light seen in the foreseeable future.

It’s a sad commentary, to think of the future with constantly combative political parties constantly fighting for power with the singular purpose of rubbing the noses of the other party’s elected officials in the dirt especially reserved for losers.

Where does it end? When do we, the citizens who rely on elected officials, start to matter again? When will the needs of the country come first, ahead of the naked grasp for power, retribution, and revenge for past sins, perceived or real by the so-called winners of elections?

Americans, all Americans, should demand a return to government by compromise and demand our elected representatives start acting like they care about this country and are not slaves to any party or any party leader.

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CORONAVIRUS INFO PROVIDED BY DR. JIM HARRIS –12/10/2021

J. Harris: To me, the recent data above probably reflects increased Covid infections as well as increased testing. Since the numbers of hospitalized Covid patients remains low, likely the new infections reflect Omicron? It may be a little late for some of us, but masks and crowd avoidance are indicated again, especially for the elderly and frail. 

FROM NYT THIS AM:

1. Middlebury College moves to remote instruction amid an outbreak.

(J. Harris: Vermont has the highest vaccination rates in the US. I’d like to know how many of these students have been vaccinated before becoming ill. Watch.)

2. Protection from mRNA vaccines wanes for some older adults, a C.D.C. study finds.

(J. Harris: So, be sure you have had your 3rd jab. Call Health Dept. at 903 938 8338 to get local vaccination schedule. Boosters available for older teenagers as well.)

Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant: a new chapter in the COVID-19 pandemic

(J. Harris: Current, brief summary and update of what we know about Omicron.)

”…In terms of diagnostics, the omicron variant is detectable on widely used PCR platforms in South Africa…There is no reason to believe that current COVID-19 treatment protocols and therapeutics would no longer be effective, with the possible exception of monoclonal antibodies, for which data on the omicron variant’s susceptibility are not yet available. Importantly, existing public health prevention measures (mask wearing, physical distancing, avoidance of enclosed spaces, outdoor preference, and hand hygiene) that have remained effective against past variants should be just as effective against the omicron variant.

Extrapolations based on known mutations and preliminary observations, which should be interpreted with caution, indicate that omicron might spread faster and might escape antibodies more readily than previous variants, thereby increasing cases of reinfection and cases of mild breakthrough infections in people who are vaccinated. On the basis of data from previous VoCs, people who are vaccinated are likely to have a much lower risk of severe disease from omicron infection. A combination prevention approach of vaccination and public health measures is expected to remain an effective strategy.

9 Reasons Why I Still Mask Up

(J. Harris: I have no idea who this “civilian” [non medical] writer is, but this short message makes several good points and has a couple of good analogies. My Internist friend in Houston maintains that masks are as important as vaccination — and he treats many Covid patients.)

From Hopkins:

Two Years Into This Pandemic, The World is Dangerously Unprepared for the Next One, Report Says (Washington Post) Nearly two years into a coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 5 million people, every country, including the United States, remains dangerously unprepared to respond to future epidemic and pandemic threats, according to a report released Wednesday assessing the efforts of 195 countries. Researchers compiling the Global Health Security Index — a project of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, a D.C.-based nonprofit global security group, and the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health — found insufficient capacity in every country, which they said left the world vulnerable to future health emergencies, including some that might be more devastating than COVID-19. The assessment of each country’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to health emergencies in 2021 was based on public information. Researchers also weighed other factors, such as public confidence in government. The average country score for 2021 was 38.9 out of a possible 100 points, essentially unchanged from 2019. No country scored above 75.9.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEASED: WHY I DON’T GET COVID VACCINATED

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Opinion: Stupid-stewped-stoopid Headline

 Opinion: Stupid-stewped-stoopid Headline of the Day:

By George Smith  — December 11, 2021

“The US House Jan 6 Probe is WITCH HUNT 3.0”

Right-wing social media sites, posing as “news outlets”, have no shame, no sense of decency, answering only the clarion call of the Money God and its acolyte twins Political Pabulum and Laughable BS.

Jan. 6 happened. It’s a fact that a domestic terrorist mob tried to kidnap democracy by denying constitutional due process in the peaceful transfer of power from one president to another.

Labeling it anything other than a full-fledged, orchestrated insurrection strains credibility past the breaking point.

Former President Donald Trump did not invent the term “witch hunt”. He did, however, stake claim to its use way back in 2015 and has sprinkled it liberally in every rambling speech he ever gave since.

The term has become synonymous with Trump’s tenure and even with the man himself. In our thoughts, “Donald Trump” is usually followed by “witch hunt”, despite the fact that most of his witchiest-huntable moments are all-too-true.

It makes little difference to the Trumpuppet Corps, who disbelieve their own eyes and ears to pay homage to their personal cult leader, The Prophet Trump. If he says the insurrection was a meeting of “like-minded patriots wanting to see the workings of government up close and person,” then so be it.

These fools, as Brian Willians said last night in his retirement address, have “…decided to burn it all down – with us inside”.

For shame.

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 Opinion: Definition of Patriot

 Opinion: Definition of Patriot

By George Smith  — December 9, 2021

Let’s talk straight.

Definition of patriot

”one who loves and supports his or her country”

If you believe the results of the 2020 elections are false and you believe the election was  stolen from Donald Trump…you are not a patriot.

If you would vote for Trump in 2024… you are not a patriot.

If you refuse to acknowledge that the Jan. 6, 2021 attack of the Capitol was NOT an insurrection attempt and a domestic terrorist attack…you are not a patriot.

If you are a supporter of Majorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert or Paul Gosar, or Sens. Mitch McConnell, Tom Cotton or Ted Cruz, you are not a patriot, but a wrong-headed follower of suppression politics.

All of those legislators are only interested in two things…and the fate of the country is not one of them. They all have two things in common: Power…getting it and holding onto it, and money, getting it and getting more of it.

To those folks, the fate of the country and its foundation of democracy are secondary to personal gratification in gaining and holding onto power.

If you value democracy, you cannot support those that want to dilute freedoms that define America, including equality and justice for all and preserving a democratic form of government.

It’s time for real patriots to stand up to the false idolatry worshippers who advocate the suppression of entire classes of voters in order to increase their support base.m, and, thus, individual power.

Let your voices be heard. It’s the right thing to do…the American thing to do.

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A day in the Life of Sue Republican

A day in the Life of Sue Republican

Sue gets up at 6 a.m. and fills her coffeepot with water to prepare her morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards.

With her first swallow of coffee, she takes her daily medication. Her medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to insure their safety and  that they work as advertised.

All but $10 of her medications are paid for by her employer’s medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance – now  Sue gets it too.

She prepares her morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Sue’s bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

In the shower, Sue reaches for her shampoo. Her bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought  for her right to know what she was putting on her body and how much it contained.

Sue dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air she breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for laws to stop industries from  polluting our air.

She walks to the subway station for her government-subsidized ride to work. It saves her considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants  liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Sue begins her work day. She has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought  and died for these working standards. Sue’s employer pays these standards because Sue’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union.

If Sue is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, she’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn’t think she should lose her home  because of her temporary misfortune.

It’s noon and Sue needs to make a bank deposit so she can pay some bills. Sue’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect  Sue’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression.

Sue has to pay her Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and her below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Sue and the government would be  better off if she was educated and earned more money over her lifetime.

Sue is home from work. She plans to visit her father this evening at his farm home in the country. She gets in her car for the drive. Her car is among the safest in the  world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards.

She arrives at her childhood home. Her generation was the third to live in the house financed by Farmers’ Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural  loans. The house didn’t have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification.

She is happy to see her father, who is now retired. Her father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure  he could take care of himself so Sue wouldn’t have to.

Sue gets back in her car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn’t mention  that Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Sue enjoys throughout her day. Sue agrees: “We don’t need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I’m self-made and believe everyone should take care of themselves, just  like I have”.

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Opinion: Butts, bed sheets and horizontal gravity

 Opinion: Butts, bed sheets and horizontal gravity

By George Smith  — December 1, 2021

Ohhhhh, sometimes the mind climbs out of the proverbial “box” on its own.

Butts, bed sheets and horizontal gravity

I’ve never claimed that a certain percentage of my thoughts are what one might call “normal.” It is (pick one) A) a blessing, or a curse to have thoughts that sometimes fall outside the realm of those shared by a vast majority of people.

Since I have them on occasion, I go with A.

An example: Have you ever been sitting up in bed, leaned against the headboard, pillows at your back, thumbing the heck out of a good novel and all of a sudden … you realize you have slid down in the bed without realizing it? Instead of being in a sitting position, you find yourself practically supine! How did that happen?

I surmise it’s a little known and totally misunderstood element of physics – horizontal gravity. As you might surmise, there’s got to be more to it than just the fact that scientists and philosophers have overlooked this phenomenon for the past several thousand years, ever since the invention of sheets with thread count over six. Not 600, but six.

I have come to the belief that there is a direct correlation between the thread count of sheets, the square inch-ary of butt surface and the theory of horizontal gravity. Check that: It is my contention that horizontal gravity is not a theory, but an existing condition that has not been properly studied.

That’s about to change.

I am writing a federal grant to study the phenomenon and, with the bringing-home-the-bacon money available from my elected officials, I expect to get started as soon as my grant can be approved, which should be as soon as this latest, silly Middle East conflict question can be resolved. Knowing members of congress like I do, I know it’s easy to stick this type of expenditure as a “tail-er” on a bigger bill about nuclear proliferation or some such.

I have already done sufficient research to warrant the grant that I value at about $49,750. (I am convinced if I keep it under $50,000, it is such a fiscal pimple as to be invisible in any General Account Office audit.)

You want proof of my initial reasoning and research? How’s this: Sheets vary widely in thread count, as well as material from which they are constructed; 300-, 600-, 800-thread count sheets are commonplace. It is easy to buy higher thread count sheets of up to 1,800 threads per square inch (900 vertical and 900 horizontal). A higher thread count than that and you have Sarah Wrap.

A portion of the study will have to do with the surface area of butts on bed sheets. I am firmly convinced that the total surface area of a butt will slide horizontally in direct proportion to thread count; the bigger the butt surface, the faster the horizontal movement.

Of course, the study will have to include the movement of bare buttocks vs. clothed; the type of covering material or lack thereof and its affect on rate of horizontal movement will have its own section in the final report.

Those of you who may scoff at my research grant proposal do not know the depth of federal grant follies. Do you know whether or not it is economically feasible to create bite-sized bales of hay for cows? It is not economically feasible according to a 1980s federal grant to the University of Michigan.

What is the composition of 17th Century violin varnish? We know this important fact due to a federal grant.

And federal funds were used to compile the history of comic books.

Surely, a study to research the theory of horizontal gravity is just as important.

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